Nepotism In Prince Edward County?

Nepotism and Cronyism ...A grand old tradition?

Friends and family enjoying privilages of office?

Unanswered questions lead to more questions.

The gentleman in the picture is the Honorable Howard F. Simpson, Supervisor and Vice Chairman of the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors. This man is a mover and shaker in Prince Edward County government and indeed a man who knows the world of politics, of making deals, doing favors and receiving favors.

As they say… there are privileges of office and Vice Chairman Howard F. Simpson knows perhaps better than most how to get the most out of the office he holds in Prince Edward County government.

For those not familiar with the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors, suffice it to say that the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors has had its "issues" over the past few years. Vice Chairman Simpson is one of the leaders... second in command on the Board if you will... and seems to be aligned with a majority of five Supervisors who form a solid cabal which exercises almost absolute control over all county business. Thus Vice Chairman Simpson is perhaps, more than most, directly responsible for all of those same "issues" for better or worse.

This is the backdrop for our new story… a story that is as old as government and government service.

Where shall we begin?

This story begins to unfold during the regular June 13th, 2006, meeting of the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors. During this routine meeting, there came an unexpected series of questions concerning the proposed $42 million budget that was subsequently approved on a split vote.

Those questions seemed to provoke awkward tension between several of the Supervisors.














County Administrator Mildred B. Hampton (on left) and Chairman William "Buckie" Fore (on right).


But those questions... interesting as they were... elicited little substantive response from County Administrator Mildred B. Hampton. After a brief exchange, those questions came to an abrupt end when Chairman William “Buckie” Fore declared the Supervisor who was asking those questions “out of order.” The justification for this ruling was not offered.

As an Iconoclast editorial observation, accepted parliamentary procedure does indeed allow a ruling of “out of order” if a discussion appears “dilatory, incorrect, frivolous or rude.”

However, given that personnel costs are such an important component of any county budget, the Iconoclast is inclined to think that Chairman Fore’s call in this case may not have been appropriate. The questions were anything but frivolous. Nor did they seem dilatory or rude. Just hard questions on what was perhaps a sensitive subject.

But let us not dwell on this technical issue. There are bigger issues.

So… what is the big deal?

The big deal is that the questioning involved certain personnel actions which resulted in a questionable promotion of an individual to a significant supervisory position in Prince Edward County Government. That personnel action was a part of the County budget paid for by the good citizens of Prince Edward County.

More remarkable is that the beneficiary of this questionable promotion happens to be a close relative of Vice Chairman Howard F. Simpson. This perhaps explains the awkward tension betweem the Supervisors and Vice Chairman Simpson's conspicuous silence on the matter.

The direct beneficiary of the questioned personnel action, one Mr. Billy Coe (as reported in The Southside Messenger), was installed in a supervisory position with Prince Edward County government without the benefit of any public offering of that position. This position is paid by the taxpayers of Prince Edward County. It is a budget issue. It is a public issue. It is an issue of fairness.

While confidential personnel records are indeed protected, It seems clear enough that the questions involving the process of implementing personnel actions and how public funds are spent is a fair topic of public discussion.

It seems that a supervisory position was somehow created and that Mr. Coe was initially appointed on a temporary basis and subsequently, without a public offering, made permanent. Other more senior personnel and similarly qualified personnel appear to have had no opportunity to compete for the position. These circumstances create the impression that the position was just magically created and filled by an individual who happens to be closely related to Vice Chairman Simpson.

How close?

Sources familiar with the particulars have confirmed that Mr. Coe is, in fact, Vice Chairman Howard F. Simpson’s step-son.

According to video footage of the meeting, when pressed for answers, Administrator Hampton could or would not explain how Mr. Coe was installed in a newly created supervisory position without any public notification of the job opportunity.

Is this a privilege of office?

Is this a case of nepotism?

Dear readers, the Commonwealth Iconoclast has no problem with a dad doing favors for his kid. Nor do we really want to get involved in petty local politics. However, if the circumstances in question involve the use of public funds, yes it is indeed a concern.

Perhaps we can learn something useful from these circumstances.

According to Answers.com, nepotism is defined as “Favoritism shown or patronage granted to relatives…”

Nepotism is closely related to cronyism, Cronyism is just like nepotism (favors to relatives), except cronyism is more generic. Cronyism is more like granting favors to your friends and associates. You know the stereotype… these are the people you hang out with at the local watering hole or on the golf course. You get the picture?

Also, nepotism and cronyism is not limited to only employment practices. It can be seen in other relationships between County officials and private interests. Perhaps readers of the Iconoclast will remember "The Dunn Deal: A Family Affair?"

Nepotism and cronyism is also related to the concept of the so called “spoils system" the term coming from the expression "to the victor go the spoils.”

Whether it be nepotism, cronyism or the spoils system, all of these terms usually imply inappropriately granting of favor to less qualified, or unqualified or unworthy beneficiaries based on relationships, friendship, or other associations.

While nepotism and cronyism is widely practiced in the private business world, often with predictably disasterous results, these practices are universally viewed as inapproprite in the public sector.

The reason: Taxpayers should not pick up the tab for self dealing public officials.

The Iconoclast is hesitant to jump to unfair conclusions concerning Vice Chairman Simpson’s role in landing a good job with the County for his step-son. But the unanswered questions create an appearance of inappropropriate favoritism in County personnel practices.

Basic questions should be answered openly. How did the position in question get created and how did Simpson's step-son end up in this position? Did Simpson use his influence with the County Administrator to effect favoritism? Why was this new supervisory position never publicly advertised? Were any other existing County employees who were qualified offered the opportunity to apply for this new supervisory position?

One final question: Is this an isolated example, or is there a systemic pattern of nepotism and cronyism in Prince Edward County government?

Perhaps there is some plausible explaination of these circumstances. Perhaps if the Chairman would have allowed some answers to come forward, there wouldn't be so many new questions.

In government, appearances of propriety and fairness are important... in fact, almost as important as the reality of propriety and fairness. That is what this is all about... trust, transparency and fairness in government.




Note: Thanks again to our friends in Prince Edward who continue to bring these good discussion issues to light. As always, the Iconoclast appreciates confidential tips and further information on topics discussed in these pages.